Nationals use big eighth inning to beat Marlins

Aug 5, 2012 - 6:18 AM
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Danny Espinosa smoked a three-run home run
and Bryce Harper roped a solo shot as part of a six-run eighth inning, as the
Washington Nationals rallied for a 10-7 win over the Miami Marlins in the
third installment of a four-game series on Saturday.

Adam LaRoche continued his offensive hot streak with two solo home runs, while
Steve Lombardozzi, Tyler Moore, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse contributed
an RBI single each for the Nationals, who have won three of their last four
games.

Ryan Mattheus (4-1) got the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of
starter Jordan Zimmermann, who allowed five runs -- four earned -- on seven
hits and a walk over five innings.

Carlos Lee drove in a pair of runs and Jose Reyes went 3-for-4 with four runs
scored to extend his career-best hitting streak to 23 games for the Marlins,
who have dropped three of their last four games. Donovan Solano also knocked
in two runs in the setback.

Mike Dunn (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing six unearned runs on
four hits in the decisive eighth inning.

Trailing, 6-4, after seven innings, the Nationals exploded for six runs in the
eighth to take control of the game.

Dunn got Morse to ground out weakly to second to begin the inning, but fumbled
an easy underhand flip at first which allowed LaRoche to reach base and set
the stage for the huge rally.

"Dunn was making some good pitches, but had that mental mistake and dropped
that ball," Marlins starter Mark Buehrle said. "That's what you do in spring
training. Do it nine out of 10 times or 10 out of 10 times and he's going to
make that play. Unfortunately, he didn't and that's pretty much what cost us
that game."

After the error to Dunn, Jayson Werth took a walk and Lombardozzi ripped one
back up the middle to score LaRoche and make it a one-run game. Moore then
entered the game as a pinch-hitter and lined a base hit into right which
scored Werth to tie things at six.

Espinosa and crushed a 2-2 hanging slider from Dunn over the wall in left to
give the Nats the lead for good. Harper followed and tattooed a high fastball
into the second deck in right, extending the lead to 10-7 and sending Dunn to
the clubhouse.

Solano plated Reyes with a single in the top of the ninth to cap the scoring.

Earlier, the Marlins jumped on top early with a pair of runs in the second
inning. Lee was plunked and Solano walked to start the inning before Gorkys
Hernandez grounded into a fielder's choice, which allowed Lee to score on a
throwing gaffe by Espinosa. John Buck then ripped a double into right which
scored Hernandez for the 2-0 lead.

Washington quickly got a run back in the home portion of the inning when
LaRoche got a fastball up and drove it into the seats in right for his 22nd
home run of the season.

Reyes laced a two-out double and came around to score on a base hit by Lee in
the third to widen the lead to 3-1, but Washington came right back with two
runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at three.

Zimmermann coaxed a one-out walk from Buehrle and Espinosa followed with a
single. Zimmermann moved to third on a groundout by Harper and Ryan Zimmerman
cane through with a base hit up the middle to score the Nats' righty. Morse
then singled home Zimmerman to knot the game.

The Marlins went ahead with a pair of runs in the fifth to make it 5-3.
Bryan Petersen started the frame with a base hit and moved into scoring
position on a sacrifice bunt by Scott Cousins. Reyes then reached with an
infield single and Petersen scored when Espinosa threw the ball away. The
Marlins' speedy shortstop then stole second and scored on a double to deep
center by Lee.

LaRoche went deep again leading off the Washington sixth, but the Marlins got
the run right back in the seventh when Reyes raced home on a well-placed
sacrifice bunt up the first-base line, making it a 6-4 contest.

Game Notes

Prior to Saturday's game, the Marlins placed outfielder Emilio Bonifacio on
the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb and recalled infielder
Nick Green from Triple-A New Orleans...Washington improved to 6-6 against the
Marlins in 2012...LaRoche has 14 RBI in his last 11 contests...Morse (1-for-5)
extended his hitting streak to 13 games...The Nationals committed three
errors...Buehrle allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over six
innings.

84roots

MIAMI: 7WASHINGTON: 10Final

Aug 4 10:15 PM

84roots

Donovan Solano single to left scored Jose Reyes with two out. Runner on first and Gorkys Hernandez due up.

Gorkys Hernandez grounded into a fielder's choice, second to short. Donovan Solano out at second. On the play, Carlos Lee scored on Danny Espinosa's throwing error with two out. Runner on second and John Buck due up.